Reasons for Brittany Higgins secret $2.5million compensation payout revealed

Brittany Higgins was awarded undisclosed $2.5 million in damages because she is no longer “fit to work” and is being paid for 40 years of lost earnings, a draft statement said.

The former Liberal Party staffer accused Bruce Lehrmann of raping her in March 2019 in a minister’s office at Parliament House when they were colleagues.

The trial was aborted and the charges against Mr Lehrmann – which he has consistently denied – were later dropped.

But Ms. Higgins, who was a Liberal staffer, also filed a civil suit against her former political employers, leading to the huge payout.

The draft statement of claim obtained by The Australiansays Ms Higgins was ‘successful and progressing in her career’ but that her chances of progressing in politics were ruined by her alleged rape.

Brittany Higgins (pictured right with her partner David Sharaz) filed a civil suit against her former political employers, leading to the huge payout

“The plaintiff had a reasonable expectation of regular promotion and eventually furthering her own political career before suffering from the injuries and disabilities,” the document said.

It said that after the alleged incident, she was “medically unfit for any form of work and has been given a very poor prognosis for future employment.”

The draft statement stated that she had to pay $2,521,314.40 in economic loss as a result.

The $2.5 million figure was based on Ms. Higgins’ salary for 2021 over a 40-year period, adding an additional $1 million for promotions she could have expected, but also 15 percent, $1.5 million , was removed to take into account changing circumstances.

The statement – which was dated 29 March 2022, when the coalition under Prime Minister Scott Morrison was still in power – said Ms Higgins had not worked since 8 February 2021, all but one day after she resigned from her political role .

Ms. Higgins also claimed $400,000 in damages for the “distress and humiliation” caused by Senator Linda Reynolds — in whose office she alleged she was raped — Senator Michaelia Cash and Mr. Morrison in the way they handled her allegations.

“The plaintiff’s pain, suffering and humiliation has been exacerbated as a result of the way the individual respondents behaved at the time of the assault and during the subsequent handling of the case, as well as as a result of the toxic and harmful culture and work environment.” to which the plaintiff was subjected by the respondents,” the document said.

Daily Mail Australia revealed earlier this month that Ms Higgins’ claim had been cleared by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, in a decision based on outside legal advice.

While the settlement was made by the Treasury Department, the Attorney General’s Office’s Legal Services Directions directed him to oversee — and agree to — all material claims brought against the Commonwealth.

Daily Mail Australia revealed earlier this month that Ms Higgins’ claim had been cleared by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus (pictured)

Mr. Dreyfus’ department was primarily responsible for the settlement.

A government spokesman defended the settlement, saying that “Ms. Higgins’ claim was managed consistently with the Commonwealth’s obligations under the 2017 Legal Services Directions.”

“The terms of the settlement and the claim were administered in accordance with legal principle and practice and informed by outside legal advice.”

Mr. Lehrmann strongly denied the allegations against him, and the criminal charges were dropped after the trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.